Organisers of the Porlock Smugglers Fun Run are looking for more teams to enter to make sure this year's event can go ahead.

Smugglers will once again be raising a glass to tradition when they take part in a popular annual fundraising event.

Porlock Smugglers Run 2015 takes place this year on Saturday and will see teams ‘smuggling’ empty beer kegs from Porlock across the marsh and beach to Porlock Weir to raise money for the RNLI.

Last year’s event raised £220 for the Minehead branch of the charity which was presented to the RNLI team at a training day in May.

Event founder Chris Gladstone, who runs a B&B in the village, said: “This event aims to get people enthused and also commemorate the area’s long history of smuggling.

“We were really pleased with the response to our inaugural event last year and bowled over by the positive feedback."

However there is some doubt whether the event will go ahead unless the event can get some more teams to enter by Thursday night.

The event, sponsored by St Austell Brewery, will involve two races, one for adults and one for over 50s, both to be run in fancy dress, starting from noon.

Teams of four will transport an empty beer barrel the mile and a half across from the village to the weir, with checkpoints along the route where there will new smuggling challenges to complete.

There will be prizes for the first three teams in each race and every participant will get a free drink at The Bottom Ship pub in Porlock Weir.

The coastal area around Porlock Weir was very much associated with smuggling in the 18th and 19th centuries with the smugglers using caves and other hiding places for their loot.

As well as alcohol, they would smuggle a variety of highly-taxed goods including tea, cloth and tobacco and became very skilled at evading the customs men.

Entry forms are available from Porlock Visitor Centre with an entry fee of £10 per team plus the chance to pre-order a Porlock Smugglers Run t-shirt.

There will be a maximum of 20 teams, so all entry forms should be submitted as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. Call 01643 862996 to enter or visit Porlock Visitor Centre.